Splatypus

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Jackie Urbanovic (Illustrator)

Overview

Lonely Platypus wants to play, but where should he go? Should he jump with the kangaroos? Leap with the possums? Fly with the bats? Every time he tries to find out—skipping, hopping, dipping, dropping—he winds up going splat instead. Can a SPLATypus find a place where he belongs? This rhyming, rollicking story is perfect for reading aloud.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781503939202
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	04/04/2017
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	564,209
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen is an award-winning author whose books include Duck, Duck, Moose!, Chicks Run Wild, Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!, Orangutangled, the Merida chapter book series, and more than forty other titles. Her books have been named to the Junior Library Guild, the CBC Children's Choices finalist list, the California Readers Collections, the Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year list, and the Amelia Bloomer list. She lives in New Jersey. Learn more about her at www.sudipta.com.

Editorial Reviews

07/01/2017
PreS-K—Platypus is lonely and just wants to play. He spends all day traveling around, looking for friends. Platypus meets kangaroos, possums, bats, and more. Some are bumpy; others are too jumpy or could climb high and even fly. After a series of failed attempts to partake in the fun, Platypus finally finds the perfect place to play at home or in the water, where everyone is wiggling and giggling. This is an adorable story with bright and cheerful illustrations that are sure to attract a young child's eyes. The simple, rhyming text flows smoothly. Bardhan-Quallen's use of onomatopoeia adds to the overall mood of the story. Characters are fun and expressive. VERDICT A great addition for storytimes as well as for bedtime. This one is a real crowd-pleaser.—Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

School Library Journal

2017-04-26
A clumsy platypus takes on a humorous persona.In this playful, rhyming text, Platypus continually falls as tries to find friends. He meets a host of Australian animals (although their country is never mentioned) and tries to follow their lead. "Kangaroos / jump-a-roo, / so he hollers, ‘I'll jump too!' " As he is shown "SKIPPING, / HOPPING, / DIPPING, / DROPPING," he bumps into one of the marsupials and—"SPLATypus!" appears in red text, as the poor animal falls to the ground. "Far too jumpy, / far too bumpy, / this is not for Platypus." He tries racing with dingoes, leaping with possums, and flying with fruit bats, only to be discouraged each time, until he discovers his natural milieu. His swimming skills come into play as he enters the water. Here he meets penguins, swans, pelicans, turtles, fish, lobsters, and even a sea horse. "DIVING, DIPPING, / SLIDING, SLIPPING." Here he is also called "SPLATypus," but the name takes on a different connotation as the water creatures welcome him. Browns, greens, and blues predominate in the watercolor palette, and the illustrator gives viewers a strong sense of several different habitats in the land Down Under. While most animals are represented in their real colors, the comical title character stands out with his uncharacteristic blue bill and webfeet. (Platypuses have black bills and feet). An amusing tale, ready for reading aloud, of finding "the perfect place." (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

"A great addition for storytimes as well as for bedtime. This one is a real crowd-pleaser." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher